"Is that his step? No; its that miserable gaoler's," said Humphrey, as
he lay back on his soft skin-covered couch with his arms beneath his
head in a careless, indolent attitude.
Humphrey was beginning to feel the thrill of returning strength in his
veins, and it brought with it his old independence of spirit and the
memory that he had been trained to rule. His little episode with Bart
that morning had roused him a little, and prepared him for his encounter
with the buccaneer captain, upon whom he felt he was about to confer a
favour.
A smile played about his lips as the step drew nearer, the difference
between it and that of Bart being more and more marked as he listened,
and then quite closed his eyes, while the heavy curtain was drawn aside,
and the buccaneer entered the chamber. He took a step or two forward,
which placed him in front of the stone idol, and there he stood gazing
down at the handsome, manly figure of his prisoner, whose unstudied
attitude formed a picture in that weird, picturesque place, which made
the captain's breath come and go a little more quickly, and a faint
sensation of vertigo tempt him to turn and hurry away.
The sensation was momentary. A frown puckered his brow, and he said
quietly--
"Asleep?"
"No," said Humphrey, opening his eyes slowly; "no, my good fellow. I
was only thinking."
The buccaneer frowned a little more heavily as he listened to his
prisoner's cool, careless words, and felt the contemptuous tone in which
he was addressed.
"You sent for me," he said, harshly, and his voice sounded coarse and
rough.
"Well," said Humphrey, with insolent contempt, "how many ships have you
plundered--how many throats have you cut this voyage?"
The buccaneer's eyes seemed to flash as he took a step forward, and made
an angry gesture. But he checked himself on the instant, and, with a
faint smile, replied--
"Captain Armstrong is disposed to be merry. Why have you sent for me?"
"Merry!" said Humphrey, still ignoring the question; "one need be, shut
up in this tomb. Well, you are back again?"
"Yes; I am back again," said the buccaneer, smoothing his brow, and
declining to be angry with his prisoner for his insulting way as he
still lay back on the couch. "It is but the pecking of a prisoned
bird," he said to himself.
"And not been caught and hanged yet? I was in hope that I had seen the
last of you."
"I have heard tell before of prisoners reviling their captors," said the
buccaneer, quietly.
"Revile! Well, is it not your portion!"
"For treating you with the consideration due to a gentleman?" said the
buccaneer, whose features grew more calm and whose eyes brightened as if
from satisfaction at finding the prisoner so cool and daring, and in how
little account he was held. "I have given orders that the prisoner
should be treated well. Is there anything more I can do?"
The harsh grating voice had grown soft, deep, rich, and mellow, while
the dark, flashing eyes seemed to have become dreamy as they rested upon
the prisoner's handsome, defiant face.
"Yes," said Humphrey, bitterly; "give me my liberty."
The buccaneer shook his head.
"Curse you! No; you profess to serve me--to treat me well--and you keep
me here barred up like some wild beast whom you have caged."
"Barred--caged!" said the buccaneer, raising his eyebrows. "You have
freedom to wander where you will."
"Bah! freedom!" cried Humphrey, springing up. "Curse you! why don't I
strangle you where you stand?"
At that moment there was a rustling among the leaves outside the window,
and Humphrey burst into a mocking laugh.
"How brave!" he cried. "The buccaneer captain comes to see his unarmed
prisoner, and his guards wait outside the doorway, while another party
stop by the window, ready to spring in."
The buccaneer's face turned of a deep dull red--the glow of annoyance,
as he strode to the window and exclaimed fiercely--
"Why are you here? Go!"
"But--"
"Go, Bart," said the buccaneer, more quietly. "Captain Armstrong will
not injure me."
There was a heavy rustling sound among the leaves and the buccaneer made
as if to go to the great curtain; but he checked himself, turned, and
smiling sadly--
"Captain Armstrong will believe me when I tell him that there is no one
out there. Come, sir, you have sent for me. You have thought well upon
all I said. All this has been so much angry petulance, and you are
ready to take me by the hand--to become my friend. No, no; hear me.
You do not think of what your life here may be."
"That of a pirate--a murderer!" cried Humphrey, scornfully.
"No," said the buccaneer, flushing once more. "I am rich. All that can
be a something of the past. This land is mine, and here we can raise up
a new nation, for my followers are devoted to me. Come! are we to be
friends?"
"Friends!" cried Humphrey, scornfully--"a new nation--your people
devoted!--why man, I sent for you to warn you!"
"You--to warn me?"
"Yes. One of your followers is plotting against you. He has been
addressing your men; and if you don't take care, my good sir, you will
be elevated over your people in a way more lofty than pleasant to the
king of a new nation."
"I understand your sneers, sir," said the buccaneer, quietly; and there
was more sadness than anger in his tone. "They are unworthy of the
brave man who has warned me of a coming danger, and they are from your
lips, sir, not from the heart of the brave adversary I have vowed to
make my friend."
Humphrey winced, for the calm reproachful tone roused him, and he stood
there frowning as the buccaneer went on.
"As to the plotting against me, I am always prepared for that. A man in
my position makes many enemies. Even you have yours."
"Yes--you," cried Humphrey.
"No; I am a friend. There, I thank you for your warning. It is a
proof, though you do not know it, that the gap between us grows less.
Some day, Captain Armstrong, you will take my hand. We shall be
friends."
Humphrey remained silent as the buccaneer left the chamber, and, once
more alone, the prisoner asked himself if this was true--that he had
bidden farewell to civilisation for ever, and this was to be his home,
this strange compound of savage fierceness and gentle friendliness his
companion to the end?